While I was attending NAEA, I created a sub plan for my kiddos introducing the artist James Rizzi. When it came time to create a backdrop for our superhero city, I reminded my students of this artist. Using bingo daubers filled with diluted India ink and construction paper, they created these fun cities. They made the most epic backdrop for all of our superhero projects.
Here's a time lapse of our big night!
I feel like I've been in go-mode every since returning from the art teacherin' conference in March. We hit the ground running with clay projects right after spring break. Normally, I create instructional videos for my clay lessons but this time around, I just didn't have the time. So...I'll be sharing the projects with you but just know that more details are to come.
To kick off our superhero theme, my second graders created onomatopoeia plaques. We have 30 minute art classes so on the first day, we created the background piece and painted it with glaze.
The following day, we added the middle piece and the lettering. Once out of the kiln, we glazed the lettering and fired again. While waiting for the firing, we created Model Magic beads for the hanger of our plaques. More details on this project to come!
My second graders also created these sweet superhero selfie statues!
I had two classes come at once so that I could have an hour of art with my second graders. We created these in that amount of time.
Complete details (hopefully with video!) to come, promise! We used cone 06 Amaco clay to create these. Once out of the kiln, we glazed with Amaco's Teacher's Palette glaze.
I only have three rules when glazing: do not glaze the bottom, NO WHITE SPOTS and be sure and glaze everything a minimum of three times. I love that this superhero has a sidekick!
Third graders created superhero CARS! This was easily my favor project to teach and see come together...each one is so different and so fun. I cannot wait to share with you just how easy this project is. Every kiddo was completely excited and engaged!
From drag race cars to sports cars, jeeps, limos and more, they came up with everything. I had originally planned for them to also create a 3D pop up city to display their cars in...but we simply ran out of time.
One fun thing we did was add alphabet noodles to the license plates of the cars (or anywhere else the kids wanted). This was a fun way for the kids to personalize their cars. The noodles burn out in the kiln, leaving behind their impression.
Don't tell...but this AMAZING drag race car is my absolute favorite thing of all time! The imagination and invention on this kid...such a show stopper!
Some of us created self-portrait style bobble heads...
And some of did not. And I love both!
Every year, I love these bobble head projects more and more.
Now don't you go telling anyone, but the first grader's projects just might be my favorite.
And they were easily the most excited bunch. We started by creating super cities in our 30 minute classes. After they were fired, I dunked them in diluted black tempera paint and the kids added metallic paint on top. We also used clay to create a flying super selfie!
These were painted with tempera cakes and sealed with sparkle Mod Podge.
Super shields were also created...I cannot wait to share with y'all the details of those projects. But that will have to wait. Thank you so much for letting me share our Superhero portion of the art show!
Y'all! Last night was our school-wide art show with the theme Superheroes! I have SO MUCH TO SHARE WITH YOU from the big night...video tours and tons of photos so brace yourself...the Art Show Blog Posts are Coming! I thought I'd kick the series of posts off with a post of what I decided to create and wear for the occasion: my Superhero Dress with Rainbow Cape!
Every spring, when we crack open our 500 lbs of kiln fire clay, I try to come up with a theme for our clay projects. All of the clay projects are displayed in the art room as that's the biggest space to showcase our 3D work. The first year we went with a theme, the art room was transformed into a 1950's diner. We all wore 50's style clothing and it was a BLAST. The following year, our theme was Pet Shop where all the kiddos created animals out of clay. This year, I thought Superheroes would be a fun theme and the kids LOVED it! Each artist created either a ceramic superhero, a superhero car, a bobblehead superhero, a superhero shield, you name it! I'll be certain to share all of those with you in upcoming blog posts. To display these pieces, my early finishers created Rizzi city buildings with construction paper and black paint. That was added to our covered tables and whiteboard to serve as a backdrop for our display!
A couple weeks ago, I decided to create my own superhero dress. I popped into Joann's and thought these three primary color prints would work well together. I used my standard mashup of patterns: circle skirt, fitted bodice and a wide waistband to create this look.
I'd had the idea of a cape in the back of my mind...but I just wasn't sure what it would look like. Initially it was just going to be a yellow cape with a palette appliqued to the back. Then I got the idea to use this stash of satin rainbow fabric to create a cape. I've NEVER made a cape before...so this took some toying around. I made a mock cape out of muslin to work out the kinks. I'm so excited with how it turned out!
I created a giant palette shield out of cardboard, insulation foam (for the paint blobs) and paper towel tubes (for the brush).
I simply safety pinned it to the back of my dress and there you go! I think it will be so much fun to wear throughout the year to teach about rainbow order and color theory.
I let the kids know that on the night of the art show, they were to arrive dressed as a superhero or wearing a t-shirt with their favorite hero on it. We had so many AMAZING little heroes running around! I had the chance to take superhero selfies with so many of my artists...it really was the highlight of my NIGHT/YEAR/DAY/EVERYTHING.
This precious little girl's mom made her superhero costume...isn't it the cutest!? So many homemade costumes made an appearance along with store bought.
Y'all best stay tuned...much more art show coming your way! Until then...xo!
